Paper-feeding machine.



v F L. GROSS. ATENTED DEC. 19, 1905.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 4, 1903.

""52 W I LIZ J //v l/E/V TOR WTNESSZS UNITED sures PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK L. CROSS, OF MYSTIC, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO CROSS PAPER FEEDER COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

PAPER-FEEDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I; FRANK L. CRoss, of

Mystic, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Feeding Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to that class of sheetfeeding machines in which the sheets are supported upon a table and presented to sheet separating and feeding devices by which the individual sheets are successively fed from the top of the pile.

The primary object of the invention is to provide simple and efiicient adjusting devices by which the table may be readily and conveniently adjusted to bring the pile of sheets into proper relation with the devices for acting on the sheets either in adjusting the machine for sheets of different size or of different quality or thickness of paper or in varying the position of the pile during the separation and feeding of the sheets.

A further object of the invention is to provide front guides which will automatically adjust themselves to the different positions of the sheet-sup porting table.

The various features of invention by whichthese objects are accomplished are set forth in the claims and will be understood from a detailed description of the mechanisms embodying these features, which I have shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation on line 1 1, Fig. 2, showing so much of a feeding-machine as is necessary to illustrate the application of the present improvements thereto. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail showing the manner of mounting the adjusting-pawls for moving the table laterally. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail on line 44, Fig. 2.

1n the construction shown in the drawings the pile of sheets S is supported upon the feedtable A and is presented in position to be acted upon by the sheet separating and feeding devices. The separating or feeding devices may be of any suitable or well-known construction and are shown as consisting of two combing-rolls B. The sheet-supporting table A rests upon a rod C and a shaft D, the ends of which are supported in the side frames E. The side frames E are guided on rods E and are moved vertically to keep the top of the pile of sheets in proper relation to the feeding devices by screw-rods E which engage nuts formed on the side frames. The screw-rods E are operated at proper intervals by suitable mechanism (not shown) which is connected with the screw-rods through the shaft E and bevel-gears E The table A is movable laterally on the rod C and shaft D to bring the pile into proper relation to the devices for acting on the sheetsas, for instance, the side register devices for a printing-press. The mechanism for moving the table to effect the lateral adjustment in eitherdirection consists of two racks F F, secured on opposite sides of the table and arranged to be engaged by two oppositely acting pawls G G, the pawl G cooperating with the rack F to adjust the table toward the right in Fig. 1 and the pawl Cr and rack F cooperating in adjusting the table toward the left. The pawl Gr is pivoted .to a pawl-carrying arm H, depending from a sleeve I. The sleeve I is carried on a shaft J, mounted in the frame E at the left side of the table. The pawl G is provided with an upwardly-extending lug K, which is held normally in engagement with the bracket L by a spring M, Fig. 3. An operating-lever N extends downwardly from the sleeve I and is provided with an operating-handle O. The pawl G is similar in construction to the pawl G and is arranged at the right side of the table and is pivoted to apawl-carrying arm H, carried by a sleeve similar to sleeve I and mounted on the frame E at the right. This pawl is held in normal position by a spring M and is operated through a lever N, projecting from the pawl-carrying sleeve. The levers N N are connected by a link P, one end of which is pivoted to the lever N and the other end of which is provided with a slot P, engaging a pin P on the lever N.

The weight of the parts normally holds them in the position shown in Fig. 1. In case the table A is to be adjusted toward the right the operating-lever N is swung from the midposition toward the right, Fig. 1. This movement of the lever N carries the pawl G into engagement with the rack F, and then during the continued movement of the lever N the pawl acts to move the table laterally toward the right, the spring M stretching to accommodate the movement of the pawl. The movement of the lever N to the right does not, however, affect the pawlG, since the pin P moves idly in the slot P during this movement. When the table A is to be adjusted toward the left, the operating-lever N is moved from mid-. position toward the left, and this movement of the lever U is transmitted to the lever N by the link P. The movement of the lever N to the left carries the pawl G into engagement with the rack F, and then during the continued movement of the lever N the pawl acts to move the table toward the left. When the leverN is returned to its normal position after being operated in either direction, the pawls are returned to their normal position by the springs M M. By successive movements of the operating-lever from mid-position in either direction the table may be adjusted to the desired extent either to the right or to the left.

In the arrangement shown the shafts J J, about which the pawl-carrying arms turn, are arranged very nearly in line with the racks F F. With this arrangement the pawl-carrying arm and the pawl when it is in engagement with a rack, form a toggle which is straightened by the further movement of the pawl-carrying arm, thereby applying a strong and effective force for moving the sheet-supporting table. By connecting both of the pawls with a single operating-lever the table may be conveniently and readily adjusted in either direction by the-operator and the pile accurately positioned with relation to the registering devices or other devices for acting on the sheets.

The table A is guided in its lateral movements by the gear-teeth D, formed on the shaft D and engaged by racks D secured to the table. The shaft D is provided with gearteeth extending longitudinally of the shaft for some distance near each end, and the table A is provided with racks D on its opposite sides arranged to engage these gear-teeth. The racks D and gear-teeth D not only serve to guide the table in its lateral movements, but also serve as means for adjusting the table backward and forward to bring the pile into proper relation to the devices to which the combing-rolls B present the sheets. The table is adjusted backward or forward by turning the shaft D, and is held in proper alinement as it is adjusted by the racks D and gear-teeth D. The means for operating the shaft D to adjust the table consists of a pawl Q, mounted in a lever Q, hung on the shaft D. The pawl Q is connected with a pivoted thumb-lever Q and is normally held out of engagement with the gear-teeth by a spring Q When the table is to be adjusted either forward or back, the pawl Q is engaged with the gear-teeth on the shaft D by pressing the thumb-piece Q and while the pawl is thus held in engagement with the teeth the lever Q is moved to turn the shaft D in the desired direction.

As the sheets are advanced by the combingrolls they are supported and guided by front guides R, arranged at the front of the pile. These guides R are formed on the upper ends of strips R, which are loosely mounted on a transverse rod R The parts are so arranged that the weight of the strips R keeps them against the front of the table or pile, so that they follow the movement of the table and maintain the guides R in proper relation to the pile as the table is adjusted forward or back.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with the sheet-supporting table of racks secured thereto, oppositelyacting pawls for engaging said racks and moving'the table, an operating device, and connections between said device and said pawls for operating one pawl by moving the operating device from mid-position in one direction and for operating the other pawl by moving saiddevice from mid-position in the other direction, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the sheet-supporting table, of a rack on each side of the table, oppositely-acting pawls mounted at opposite sides of the table, an operating-lever connected with the pawls to operate either pawl and adjust the table in either direction, substantially as described.

3. The combination with sheetfeeding devices of a sheet-supporting table for presenting a pile of sheets thereto, of a laterally-extending rack secured to said table, a pawl for engaging said rack and a manually-operated lever for operating said pawl to adjust the table laterally, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the sheet-supporting table, of a rack on each side of the table, oppositely-acting pawls mounted at opposite sides of the table, an operating-lever, a connection between one pawl and the lever for engaging the pawl with a rack when the lever is moved from the mid-position in one direction, and a connection for engaging the other pawl with a rack when the lever is moved from mid-position in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the sheet-supporting table, of a rack on each side of the table, pawl-carrying arms mounted at opposite sides of the table, pawls pivoted on said arms and arranged to engage said racks, levers connected with said pawl-carrying arms, and a link connecting said levers, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the sheet-supporting table, of asupporting-shaft provided with gear-teeth, a rack on the table engaging said teeth and cooperating therewith to guide the table in its lateral movements, at manually-operated device for turning said shaft to adjust the table, and means for adjusting said table laterally, substantially as described.

7 The combination with the sheet-supporting table, of asupporting-shaft provided with gear-teeth, a rack on the table engaging said teeth, a lever hung on the shaft, and a pawl normally held out of engagement with said gear-teeth carried by said lever, substantially as described.

8. The combination with the sheet-supporting table, a shaft on which said table rests provided with gear-teeth at each side of the table, racks on the table engaging said teeth, means for manually operating the shaft to adjust the table, and means for adjusting the table laterally, substantially as described.

9. The combination with the sheet-supporting table, of front guides mounted independently and resting against the front of the table or pile and mechanism for adjusting the table forward or back, substantially as described.

10. The combination with sheet-separating devices of a vertically-movable table for presenting a pile of sheets thereto, devices foradjusting said table laterally in one direction, devices for adjusting said table laterally in the opposite direction, and a single manuallyoperated device for operating said adjusting devices, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK L. CROSS.

WVitnesses:

IRA L. FISH, KATHARINE A. DUGAN. 

